What Complementary and Alternative Medicines Work for Acid Reflux?

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Posted by Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

1. Alternative Treatment Options for GERD

Acid reflux is also known as indigestion or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It occurs when the valve between the esophagus and stomach doesn't work properly.
When the valve (lower esophageal sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, or cardia sphincter) malfunctions, food and stomach acid can back up into the esophagus and cause a burning sensation.
Other symptoms of GERD include:
Sore throat Sour taste in mouth Asthma symptoms Dry cough Difficulty swallowing Talk to your doctor if these symptoms bother you. If left untreated, GERD can cause bleeding, damage, and even cancer of the esophagus.
Doctors may prescribe several different treatments for GERD to reduce acid production in the stomach. And there are quite a few over-the-counter (OTC) medications available. There are also a number of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) options that can help relieve pain.
Complementary methods work in conjunction with traditional treatments, while there are many alternative therapies available. But there is some limited scientific evidence in favor of alternative treatments.
Always talk to your doctor before trying some complementary and alternative medicine options. Some herbs and supplements can negatively interact with medications you're taking.

1.1 Acupuncture Acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that has been around for at least 4,000 years. It uses fine needles to rebalance energy flow and stimulate healing. Only recently have there been clinical trials studying the effectiveness of acupuncture for GERD.
A clinical trial reported that acupuncture significantly reduced symptoms of GERD. Participants scored their results based on 38 symptoms, including related problems:
Digestive system problems Back pain Sleep Headache Another study found a positive effect in reducing acidity stomach as well as regulate the lower esophageal sphincter.
Electrical acupuncture (EA), another form of acupuncture, uses an electric current along with a needle.
Research is still new, but one study found that using needleless electroacupuncture increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure and reduced acid reflux. The combination of electroacupuncture and proton pump inhibitors resulted in significant improvement.

1.2 Melatonin Melatonin is generally considered a sleep hormone produced in the pineal gland. But your gut makes almost 500 times more melatonin. The intestinal tract includes the stomach, small intestine, colon, and esophagus.
Melatonin can reduce:
Prevalence of epigastric pain Lower esophageal sphincter pressure The pH level in your stomach (the level of acidity in your stomach) In a study from 2010, they compared effectiveness of taking omeprazole (a common medication used to treat GERD), melatonin, and a combination of melatonin and omeprazole. Research shows that using melatonin along with omeprazole shortens the duration of treatment and reduces side effects.
1.3 Relax Stress often makes GERD symptoms worse. The body's stress response can increase the amount of acid in the stomach, as well as slow down digestion.
Learning how to manage stress can be helpful with these triggers. Massage, deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can all help relieve symptoms of GERD.
Yoga specifically encourages the relaxation response. It may be beneficial to practice yoga along with taking medication to treat your GERD symptoms.

1.4 Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy, or clinical hypnosis, is a practice that helps a person achieve a focused, focused state. For digestive health, hypnotherapy has been shown to reduce:
Abdominal pain Unhealthy bowel patterns Bloating Anxiety Current studies on hypnotherapy are limited. However, in small, reliable trials, it was shown to be effective for heartburn and functional reflux symptoms.
Some people with acid reflux may have increased sensitivity to irritation of the normal esophagus. Hypnotherapy can help people release their fear of pain by promoting a state of deep relaxation.
1.5 Herbal Medicine Herbalists may recommend different herbs for the treatment of GERD. Examples include:
Chamomile Ginger Root Thumbnail Root Slippery Elm At this time, there are very few clinical studies to prove the effectiveness of these herbs in the treatment of GERD. Researchers do not recommend using traditional Chinese medicine to treat GERD. Current studies on herbal medicine are poor and poorly controlled.
Always check with your doctor before you take herbal supplements. Even natural herbs can cause unwanted side effects.
1.6 Baking soda As an antacid, baking soda can help temporarily neutralize stomach acid and provide pain relief. For adults and adolescents, dissolve 1/2 teaspoon in a 4-ounce glass of water.
Talk to your doctor about dosage for children.

2. Lifestyle Changes for GERD

Some of the best treatments for GERD are lifestyle changes. These changes include:
Quitting: Smoking affects lower esophageal sphincter tone and increases reflux. Quitting smoking not only helps reduce GERD, but it can also reduce your risk of other health complications. Lose weight if you are overweight: Excess weight can put extra pressure on the stomach, which can cause acid reflux in the stomach. Limit tight clothing: Clothes that are tight around your waist can put extra pressure on your stomach. This extra pressure can then affect the lower esophageal sphincter, increasing reflux. Elevate your head: Elevate your head while sleeping, anywhere from 6 to 9 inches, ensuring that stomach contents flow downward instead of upward. You can do this by placing wooden or cement blocks underneath the headboard. The good news is that you don't need to eliminate foods to treat GERD. In 2006, a review of more than 2,000 studies found no evidence that eliminating food was clearly effective in treating GERD.
But certain foods like chocolate and carbonated drinks can reduce lower esophageal sphincter pressure and allow food and stomach acid to reverse. When it does, heartburn and tissue damage may be more likely.

3. When to see a doctor

You should seek medical treatment if:
You have trouble swallowing Your heartburn causes nausea or vomiting You use over-the-counter medications more than twice per week Your GERD symptoms are causing chest pain You are have diarrhea or black stools Your doctor will prescribe medications such as:
Antacids H2 receptor blockers Proton pump inhibitors

Note that these drugs can be expensive and can cost hundreds of dollars per month. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to change your stomach or esophagus.
Seek treatment for GERD symptoms if home remedies don't work or your symptoms are getting worse
Endoscopy - Gastroenterology is one of the key specialties at the Hospital Vinmec International General Hospital. For timely examination, advice and treatment of digestive diseases, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide or register online on the website for service.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference
Acid reflux. (n.d.). patients.gi.org/topics/acid-reflux/ Acid reflux (GERD & GERD) in Children. (n.d.). niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-infants Efendieva MT. (two thousand and thirteen). [Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease]. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24501947 Gao LJ, et al. (2016). [Clinical trial of acupuncture treatment of gastro-esophageal reflex disease by needling dorsal segment of the governor vessel]. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27323443 Heartburn and GERD: Overview. (2018). ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0048152/